Pope Benedict spent his final hours as leader of the Catholic Church today by meeting cardinals at the Vatican and bidding farewell to his household staff.

He formally ceases to be Pope at 7pm tonight when he makes his final public appearance on the balcony of his summer palace Castel Gandolfo, about 15 miles south of Rome, before retiring behind closed doors.

The 85-year-old pontiff met the College of Cardinals in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican this morning.

Among them were some of the frontrunners to be the next Pope as well as cardinals with huge influence over how next month’s conclave vote may go.

Later today, his papal seal will be destroyed, seven years, 10 months and nine days after he was elected.